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Weekly Column

Each week a small segment of Vernon County history is published in the county papers.


For the week of 8/16/2020
by Carol Krogan, assistant curator

150 years ago, the Cyrus and Margaret Butt family moved into their new home north of the then “village” of Viroqua. The Sherry-Butt House, located at 795 North Main Street, is now operated as a museum by the Vernon County Historical Society, and is open for tours during the summer on Saturdays and Sundays from 1–5 p.m. As we celebrate the House’s 150th birthday, this week we feature a short biography of one of the most interesting Butt family members, Jane.

Jane Hannah Butt, also known as Jennie, was born to Cyrus and Margaret (McAuley) Butt in Viroqua on October 29, 1872. In an obituary she wrote for her cousin in 1946, Jane recalls happy days spent at her maternal grandparents’ home, where she and her cousin played in the orchards and vineyard fields, picked grandmother’s flowers, and played circus.

She attended Viroqua schools and the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Jane then returned to Viroqua and taught in its schools from 1897 to 1899. She went on to teach elocution and produce and perform in plays at UW Madison.

Her call to be an actress was strong despite the objections of her parents, and after auditioning was asked to join the Otis Skinner Company in 1901. In 1903 she joined the Robert Edson Company of New York and performed with them for about a year.

Jane’s career as a teacher lasted longer than her career as an actress. She taught in Los Angeles in the public schools as well as at a private school for girls. Jane also lived in San Diego where she was a professor at a Normal School – which was a teacher’s training school – accepting the position for the 1911 schoolyear. She remained there at least through 1915.

In 1918, Jane pursued another adventure when she applied to work for the Red Cross in Europe – post World War I. The Red Cross continued to recruit persons to assist with soldiers who remained in Europe, and some cared for flu victims. She departed on a ship from New York City and landed in Liverpool on December 7. She stayed in England until December 17 and then sailed for Paris. While in Paris she was a librarian and hostess for the Red Cross American Officers Club and worked as a chaperone at Red Cross dances. Jane also did a lot of sightseeing and went to the theater. She remained in Europe until departing from Marseilles on July 11, 1919 and arriving in the U.S. on July 28.

After her return she secured a position of teacher at Madison High School in 1921. Jane retained the Butt family home and did sometimes stay there unless she was travelling. In 1946 the home was sold to Orbec and Hilda Sherry. By the early 1950’s Jane moved to Cleveland Heights, Ohio to live with her sister Beth. She died there on December 12, 1962.


Jane Butt as a young woman
Jane Butt as a young woman.


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For the week of 8/30/2020
by Carol Krogan, assistant curator

The stately home at 795 North Main St. in Viroqua, the Sherry Butt House, is owned and operated as a museum by the Vernon County Historical Society. In celebration of the house’s sesquicentennial, we are featuring brief biographies of the people who lived in it over the years.

Cyrus and Margaret Butt built the home in 1870 and raised five children there. This week we feature child number four, Cyrus M. Butt, Jr.

Cyrus Jr. was born on November 12, 1874, in Viroqua to Cyrus Marion and Margaret (Mc Auley) Butt. He was educated in the Viroqua schools and graduated from Viroqua High School in 1893. He was considered a “model boy” and as he grew was interested in all types of physical exercise including sprinting, baseball and tumbling.

Cyrus attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in 1897 with a degree in law. He was admitted to the bar in 1898 and immediately went into practice with his father. He dealt mainly in the administration of estates of deceased persons.

In March, 1909, he announced his candidacy for County Judge, running against the incumbent, Judge Daniel O. Mahoney, and District Attorney J. Henry Bennett. Mahoney retained his seat and served as judge until 1936.

At some point Cyrus met a young woman who came to Viroqua to teach at Viroqua High School. Her name was Georgia Wellers. They were engaged to be married, but their marriage was not to be as Cyrus Jr. passed away at the age of 34 on Sept 8, 1909, from the effects of diabetes. Georgia remained in Viroqua until the beginning of April, 1910, when she moved back to the home of her birth, Platteville. She remained a school teacher and never married.

Learn more about Cyrus Butt, Jr., and all the other past residents of this gracious historic home by visiting the site for a tour. The Sherry-Butt House is open to visitors on summer Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5PM, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Admission is $5, and children under age 9 are free.


Cy Butt Jr., 1874 - 1909
Cy Butt Jr., 1874 - 1909.